Improvement in fire-escapes



` 'ltntd mes @sind djit'tw.

WILLIAM MILLER, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 107,077, dated September 6, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

The Schedule referred to :in these Letters Patent and making part of the sama To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM MILLER, of Boston, in the county of Suti'olk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and improved Fire-Escape; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification. I

Figure 1 represents a side elevation, partly in section, ot' my improved tire escape.

Figure 2 is an end elevation', partly in section, of' the same.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts.

M y invention relates to tire-eseapes,'and consisls'in certain improvements thereon, which will be first described in connection with all that is necessary to a full umlerstanding thereof, and thenA clearly specified in the claim. 'j

A, in the-drawing, represents the platform of the. truck by which the ladder is support-ed.

This platform rests on the axles ot' wheels B B, in the ordinary or suitable manner.

rlhe platform is slotted to let the ladder C pass through it when in the upright position.

The ladder C .is made extensible, either by having tubular slotted side-rails, asdescribed `in my aforesaid Letters Patent, or by heilig otherwise ot' equivalent construction.

Upon standards a a, that projectfrom the plattbrm A, are secured two curved racks or toothed segments, D I), one on each side of the truck, and both parallel to each other, as shown.

|The lower end of the ladder can be pivoted to pendent tnalnes E ot' the truck, by means ot' pins b, the said pins passing through the said pendants into the lower ends of' the side-rails of' the ladder.

The pins b-are, with their outer ends, secured t0 the lower ends ot levers F, which are`pivoted to thel truck, so-that they can be readily swung to carry the pins out ot' the side-rails.

Ou the ladder is hung a shaft, G, which carries at its ends and at both sides ofthe ladder piuious c e, which n1esh`iuto the teeth of the rack D.

When the. lower end of' the ladder is pivoted to the pendants E, the shaft G can be revolved to swing the ladder into any desired position, 'iu which, when it is obtained, the ladder can be locked by a pawl or catch, d, that engages into the cogs of the pinion c to lock the same.

The racks D, it will 'be seen, serve not only as steady adjusting devices for varying the position ot' the ladder, but they also serve as guides for the sides of the ladder.

When, by swinging the levers F, the. pins b are. withdrawn from the ladder, the latter can be. swung into a horizontal posit-ion, its front end resting upon a projecting arm, H, of the truck. lhe pinions c rest then also upon the racks D, and will, when revolved, adjust the ladder more or less far forward or backward. By applying the catch d, the ladder can also be lockedi-u the horizontal position.

1,in the drawing, represents the windlass, whichis hung to the ladder for the purpose otl extending the same.

In fig. 1 the ladder is shown in both the vertical and horizontal positions.

When held horizontally the ladder must be tied to the truck.

A suitable box or seat, J, may be used on the ladder, and connected with a rope or chain, so as` to bel readily elevated or lowered for conveying articles of furniture, persons, or tools, from or towards the upper end ot' the ladder.

Having thus described my invention,

l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combinationwith the detachable pins b b and I "frames E E, ofl the pivoted levers F F, arranged on each side otl the truck, as and for the purpose described.

WILLIAM MILLER. Witnesses z R. H. WILLIAMS, 1).'T. SMITH. 

